One Voice

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  -Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

Remember those words, as you will never hear a more accurate statement in your life.  Our planet, our nation, and even our own town have reached the point where we, the citizens, have a decision to make: do we take matters into our own hands and make a change, or do we let the downward spiral continue?  The answer is clear, so clear that it almost seems foolish to call it a “decision.”  We must stand up, speak out, and start the ball rolling towards a better tomorrow.  Assuming that someone else will pick up the responsibility is no longer an option, because history has proven that it doesn’t work like that.  Although you are only one person, one individual, you can help change the troublesome course of events going on in our world today.  Whether it’s a donation to orphans suffering in Africa, a summer vacation spent rebuilding New Orleans, or anything in between, you can be the force that makes a difference.

Over 15 million children around the world have lost at least one parent to AIDS, with over 12 million of them living in Africa.  In other words, there are twice as manyAIDS orphans in Africa than the number of Jewish Europeans killed in the Holocaust.  These startling numbers don’t say, however, that those children are living in poverty, are malnourished, are homeless, are deathly ill, and are, overall,  suffering horribly because support for them is often unavailable in their small African villages.   It is clear that this is a crisis, but what can you, as an individual, do about it?  One of the simplest solutions is donating money.  As little as $1 a day (which you can probably find between the sofa cushions or in your pants pockets) is enough to get a child his first meal in days, his first pair of shoes, his first doctor’s visit, or even his first real place to sleep.  There are thousand of sites on the Internet that can provide you with more in-depth information on supporting an AIDS orphan.

 Late August 2005 brought a true disaster to our nation: the destruction of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina.  Nearly two thousand lives were lost due to the storm, and millions of dollars in damage was caused to the area.  While there have been large-scale efforts made to get the city back on its feet, New Orleans is still dilapidated.  Buildings remain in ruin, caved in on themselves and smelling of stagnant, mosquito-infested waters.  Entire families remain displaced, living in FEMA trailers that pose health hazards.  To help the locals out, you can do what many others have done: spend your summer vacation or spring break rebuilding the city.  Instead of going to Mexico or sitting around glued to the TV all summer, why not head down to “The Big Easy” and help some families get back into their homes after a long two years?  You can make the good times roll once again.

You are just one voice, but maybe that’s all that our society needs.  Just like a single spark can start a flame, your voice can start a revolution.  The power is in your hands.  If you fail to use it, who will?